Lubricant compressor



AMay 6, 1930. i E. w. DAVIS 1,757,236

` LUBRICANT COMPRESSOR Filed April 215, 1924 A N. l

y R w" Patented May A6, 1930 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE ERNEST w. DAvIs, oF OAR PARK, ILLINOIS, AssIGNOR 'roALEMITE CORPORATION, or

cHIoA'GdILLINOIs, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE y LUBRIOANT COMPRESSORApplication led April 25,

lubricant compressors, and is particularly concerned with the provisionof a novel 'type of power operated lubricant compressor for supplyinglubricant 'under pressure to the` various bearings of a mechanism.

ably, this compressor forms part of a socalled high pressure lubricatingsystem con'- sisting of a' plurality of fittings, one of which isattached to each of the bearings-to be lubricated, and ha lubricantcompressor having means for successively making sealed connection withthe various fittings and supplying lubricant theretounde'r highpressure.

The objects of my present 'invention are,

First, to provide a power operated -com- Y v pressor which is simple inconstruction, economical to manufacture, and'easy to operate. Second, toprovide a lubricant compressor of the character described in which'iluidun-l der pressure, and preferably compressed air,

is used for actuating the compressor, and

Third, to provide a compressor such as described, in which the vibrationimparted to the mechanism by the operation of the motor assists inpriming the high pressure cylinder ofthe compressor.

Other objects of my invention will appear as this descriptionprogresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a central longitudinal section through a preferredembodiment of my 'invention, and

Figure 2 is an end elevation, portions of the mechanismbeing brokenaway.

Referring'to the drawings, my improved compressor comprises a suitablebase member 5, preferably made of cast iron, and comprising thesubstantially vert1cal walls 6, 7 and 8, and another wall opposite 8,butnot shown. The Opening formed by the upper ends of the aforesaidWalls is closed by the closure 9 for the lower end of the barrel 10. Thebarrel 10 is provided at its lower end with the flan ge 10 through whichsuitable bolts 11 and 12 extend forthe purpose of securing the barrel tothe closure 9 and to the walls mentioned above. The barrel 10 is alsoprovided with a removable closure 13, which is provided with a suitablehandle 14.

Preferv preferably V 1924. serial-No. masse.

A substantially cylindrical boss 15 is formed integrally with theclosure 9 and devto form the shoulder 17. The high pressure cylinder 18having the `head 18 is inserted through the larger portion ofthe bore 16and driven into the smaller portion thereof, where it is secured bymeans of the nut 19 which is screwed onto the outer threaded end 18. ofthe cylinder, and which abuts against the inner end of the boss 15.Openings 20 an'd 21 formed in the walls of the cylinder 18 and in theclosure 9 of the barrel 10, respectively, provide means for establishingcommunicat-ion between the barrel 10 and the cylinder 18.

The'outer ond of the cylinder 18 is beveled,

as shown at 22, to provide a seat for the valve 23. This valve isslidably mounted in the Ilarger portion of the bore 16 andis providedthe valve 23 easily to be removed for the urpose of .cleaning it and thechamberin w ich` it o crates, if this should become desirable.

he motor M, which may bc of conventional design, eXcept for the featureshereafter described and particularly referred to, i and adapted to beactuated by uids under pressure, and particularly by compressed airwhich is controlled by a suitable valve 31. The piston rod of thismotor-terminates in a plunger 32, the inner end `of which recip rocatesin thccylinder 18. The travel of this plunger is such that, when in-itsretracted position vas shown in Figure 1, it clears the ports 20 andthus permits lubricant from the barrel 10 to pass into the cylinder18V.` When the plunger 32 is at the opposite end of its ooreceives itsmotive fluid through the-pipe 30,

stroke, it completely clears the outer end of the cylinder 18 so as toinsure the complete discharge of the contents of this cylinder. As thelunger moves toward the position shown in igure 1, the valve 23 willengage its seat just as soon as the end of the plunger 32 is withdrawninto the cylinder 18. As the plunger continues-to withdraw from thecylinder 18, a vacuum is created therein so that when the ports 20 areuncovered, this vacuum will tend to suck lubricant into the cylinder 18from the barrel 10. The reciprocation of the moving parts o the motor Mcommunicates a certaln amount of vibration to the barrel 10, which tendsto cause the lubricanttherein to settle toward the bottom of the barrel10 and to flow through the opening 21 and the openings 20 into thecylinder 18. Inthis manner, a supply of lubricant to the cylinder 18 ispractically insured. However, to make certain that there will be nofailure-fin the supply of lubricant to the cylinder 18, I provide thepiston or follower P which comprises the face plate 33 to which a stripof leather 34, bent in the form of a ring with overlapping ends, issecured by means of the ring 35 and the rivets or screws 36. In thismanner, I am able to provide the equivalent of a cup leather, but at afraction of the cost of a cu leather.

The face plate 33 is provide ywith ahub 37 which is slidably mountedupon the rod 38. The inner end of this rod is screw threaded, as shownat 39, to provide a detachable connection between it and the closure 9.Ad.-

- operator to withdraw the piston P from the ybarrel 10 when the pistonP has completed its inward movement. A rod 41 extending transverselythrough the outer end of the rod 38 facilitates the removal... of thisrod from the barrel 10.

An elongated groove 42 is formed in the rod 38 adjacent its inner end toprovide well-known construction, which is here illustrated asbeingmounted upon a bearin 46. It is believed that Athe operation o myimproved compressor will be a parent from the above description. When ti e valve 31 is opened, lthe fluid under pressure will enter thecylinder of the motor M and cause the plunger 23 to reciprocate, therebysuccessively discharging charges of lubricant from the cylinder 18through the conduit43and com pling 44 into the littings. The coupling 44is'preferably ofthe valved type, that is, it

vis provided with a valve which automatically opens when the coupling 44is attached to a yfitting 45 and closes when the coupling is removedfrom the fitting. Any other-suitable means may be employed forycontrolling the flow of lubricant through the conduit 43.

When this control means, whatever it may be, is positioned to preventthe fiow of lubricant throughthe conduit 43, the plunger 32 will merelycome to rest until the valve or' control means is again opened. Thearrangement just described isv particularly suitable.

for use with compressed air or other gas, because no undue strain1s'placed upon the mechanism Awhen the passage of lubricant through theconduit 43 is restrained.

The apparatus thus far described will operate in a very satisfactorymanner, and par- Y ticularly so if the motor is not required to ophighpressure cylinder. .To correct this ditii-` culty, I have provided meanswhich slows' down or stops the motion of the piston 47 of the motor Mimmediately after the plunger 32, in its return stroke, has uncoveredthe ports 20 and just before this plunger reverses its direction ofmovement. It will 4be understood that upon the return stroke 4,ofl theplunger 32 and the piston 47, practically no resistance is offered tothe movement of these two elements and comparatively little pressure isrequired to move them through this stroke.

My invention, therefore, contemplates plac-y ing a diaphragm 48 in thesupply pipe 30.`

which is provided with a small opening 49, thereby introducing aIcertain amount of resistanee tending to oppose the passage of themotive Huid, such as steam or air, into the motor. I also secure to thehead 50 ofthe motor cylinder an auxiliary cylinder 51 having the opening52 at its inner end communicating with the cylinder of the motor. Aplunger 53 is located in the cylinder 51 and extends a short distanceinto the cylinder of the motor M. A spring 54, confined between theplunger 53 and the adjustable plug 55, pro-r vides means for yieldinglyopposing the last portion of the return stroke of the piston 47 and theplunger 32. By adjusting the plug inwardly or outwardly, the tension ofthe spring 54 can be.l varied so as to suit the vary- .ing conditionsunder which the compressor may operate. yIt desired, a cap 56 may beprovided forl closing the outer end ofthe quite rapid until the piston47 enga esl the plunger 53, whereupon the piston 4 stops until sufhcientmotive iiuid' has passed through the small opening 49 into theleft handside of the piston 47 to overcome the tension of the spring 54,whereupon the piston 47 and plunger 32' complete the return stroke andthen move forward under the pressure of themotive fluid in the directionto discharge lubricant from the high pressure cylinder. It will be seenfrom this descrip-v tion that I have provided means for arresting thereturn stroke of the plunger 32 at the point where it will permitlubricant' to be discharged frompthe barrel 10 into the high pressurecylinder. The period during which the-movement of this plunger isarrested can be varied by `varying the size of the opening 49, or thetension of the spring 54, or by varying both of these elements. It canalso, of course, be varied by varying the pressure of the motive iluid.

While I have described the detailsof .con-

struction of the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to beclearly understood that my invention is not limited to these details,

but is capable of other adaptations and modiications within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having I claim is: y

1. A lubricant compressor comprising .a barrel having a removablecover'at its upper end, and a closure at its lower en'd, a cylinderremovably secured to said closure, said clo-` Y sure and cylinder havingcommunicating ports for establishing communication between saidbarrel-and said cylinder, a valve` seating against one end of saidcylinder, a spring for yieldingly holding said valve against the end osaid cylinder, a plungen extending through the other end of saidcylinder, a motor for reciprocating said plunger, a rod extendingthroughout substantial y the entire length of said barrel and having itsinner end detachably secured to said closure, and a piston slidable4 onsaid rod.

2. A lubricant compressor comprising a barrel having a removable coverat its up er end, and a closure at its lower end, a cylin er removablysecured to said closure, said closure and cylinder having communicatingports for establishing communication between said barrel and saidcylinder, a valve for preventing return ow to s aid cylinder, a plungerextending throu h the other end said plunger, and means for retardingthe return stroke of said plunger.V Y

thus described my invention, what" barrel, a cylinder communicatingtherewith, a plun er reeiprocable inv said cylinder, a motor y orreciprocating said plunger, vand automatic means for retarding t of saidmotor, for a portion of its movement, ermit lubricant. to be dischargedfrom sai barrel into said cylinder. Y y Y 4. A lubricant compressor comrisin a barrel, a cylinder communicating t erewith, a plui rreciprocable in said cylinder, a motor ory reciprocating said plunger,and automatic means for controlling the movement of said -plun er toinsure the communication between said cylinder and barrel iemaining opena suiiicien'tlengthof time to permit lubricant to 'pass from said barrelinto said cylinder. n A

5. Com ressing means comprising. acylinder h'avlng an intake port, aplunger movable to uncover said port, automatic resiliently driven meansfor reciprocating said plunger, and means vfor retarding the'movement emovement of said reciprocating means and plungerA f I i inder having anintake port, a plunger movable to uncover said port, automaticresiliently driven means for reciprocating said plunger, and means forretarding the movement of said reciprocating means andplunger when saidport is o en, said means comprising a resilient cus ionresisting'movement near the endcor` the stroke uncovering sai'd port. 7.Compressing means comprising agcylinder havingy an mtake'port, a lungermovable to uncover said port, uid, pressure means for reciprocating saidplunger,I and means for retarding the movement of said uid ressure meansand-plunger when said port is open, said retarding means compris- .mg aresilient cushion r isting movement near the end of the str eluncoveringsaid port, and rfixed throttling means for the pressure fluid. V

8. 'Comressing means comprising a cylkinder having an intake port, aplunger movable to uncover said port, fluid pressure means forreciprocating said plunger, and means for retarding the movement ofsaidfiuid pressure means and plunger when said lport is open, saidretardmg means comprising a resilient cushion resisting movement nearthe end of the stroke uncovering said port, and fixed throttling meansfor the pressure Huid,

V said cushion sto ping movement temporarily until said throt ngmeans'permits building up a-pressure to carry theparts on into the nextstroke.

AIn witness lwhereof, I hereuntoV subscribemy name this 16th day ofApril, 1924. of said cylinder, a. motor or reciprocating .EnNEs'r w;DAVIS.

A3. A` lubricant compressor comprising a leo

